Led assembly

ABSTRACT

A light emission diode (LED) assembly, comprising a LED die ( 10 ), a phosphor layer ( 12 ), and a filter layer ( 14 ), wherein said filter layer ( 14 ) is developed in such a manner that light rays with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably of about 420 nm to 490 nm, emitted from the LED die ( 10 ) are at least partially reflected depending on their emission angle to the normal on the filter layer ( 14 ). With the inventive LED assembly it is possible to provide a LED assembly which solves the yellow ring problem without a reduction of the efficiency of the LED assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/131,384, filed May 26, 2011, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,957,439on Feb. 17, 2015, which is a 371(c) national stage entry ofPCT/IB09/55380 filed on Nov. 27, 2009, which is the internationalapplication of EP 08170458.7 filed on Dec. 2, 2008. U.S. Pat. No.8,957,439 and EP 08170458.7 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of light emission diode (LED)assemblies. Particularly the invention relates to enhanced emissionphosphor-converting LED light assemblies (pcLED). Such assemblies areoften employed to provide white light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

White light emitting LEDs generally comprise a blue emitting LEDcombined with a phosphor layer that is stimulated by the blue emissionof the LED into emitting yellow light, the combination of the yellow andblue emissions providing a white light. For normal direction, verticalto the surface of the LED die or vertical to the surface of the phosphorlayer with an emission angle of 0°, the path length in the phosphorlayer of the light rays emitted by the blue emitting LED is equal to thethickness of the phosphor layer. For increasing emission angles the pathlength for blue light rays increases. Accordingly the fraction ofabsorbed blue light rays by the phosphor layer is lower for the lightrays with an emission angle of 0° than for the light rays with anincreasing emission angle. Since the converted light emitted by thephosphor layer always has a Lambertian over angle distribution, thewhite light emitted by the LED has a higher correlated colourtemperature for normal emission with an emission angle of about 0°.Generally, the phosphor layer is a Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce). In case ofsuch a YAG:Ce phosphor layer emitted light becomes yellowish withincreasing emission angle, perceived as yellow ring. To solve the yellowring problem it is known to increase the scattering power of thephosphor layer and/or to add a scattering layer on top of the phosphorlayer. For both, the reduction of the yellow ring problem results in areduction of the LED efficiency, since scattering is accompanied bylight reflection leading to light losses. In particular, scattering ofthe down-converted phosphor emission leads to reflection withaccompanied reflection losses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Its is an object of the invention to provide a light emission diode(LED) assembly which solves the above stated yellow ring problem withouta reduction of the efficiency of the LED assembly.

The light emission diode (LED) assembly according to the inventioncomprises a LED die, a phosphor layer, and a filter layer, wherein saidfilter layer is developed in such a manner that light rays with awavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably of about 420 nm to 490nm, emitted from the LED die are at least partially reflected dependingon their emission angle to the normal on the filter layer.

The LED die is preferably a blue emitting LED. The phosphor layer ispreferably Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce). The filter layer is preferably adielectric filter layer. This filter layer realises a full transmissionfor light rays emitted by the LED die independently from theirwavelength within the visible range for large emission angles,preferably emission angle between 30° to 90°, to the normal of thefilter. For smaller emission angles, preferably emission angles between0° to 30° to the normal on the filter layer, partial reflections of thelight rays with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm are provided.Light rays with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm are blue lightrays emitted by the LED die. The partial reflections of the blue lightrays emitted by the LED die depending on their emission angle to thenormal on the filter layer realizes a uniform over angle emissionwithout loss of efficiency of the light emitted by LED. The normal onthe filter layer is along the axis vertical to the plain surface of thefilter layer.

For uniform white light emitted by the LED die the emitted intensityratio of directly emitted light from the LED die and converted lightfrom the phosphor layer has to be constant under all angles. Usuallylight emitted by the LED provides a cudgel-shaped form in the area ofsmall emission angle, preferably an emission angle of about 0° to 30 °to the normal on the filter layer. However, the yellow light emitted bythe LED die usually provides a ball-shaped form over the whole emissionangle of about 0° to 90°. Thus, there are areas, especially at largeremission angles, preferably between 30° to 90° where the ratio of bluelight to yellow light decreases. Emissions under these angles cause theyellow ring problem. By reflection of a certain amount of the blue lightfor small emission angles of about 0° to 30° it is possible to transformthe cudgel-shaped form of the blue light into a ball-shaped form so thatthe blue light and the yellow light have the same ratio over the wholeemission angle from 0° to 90°. Thus, a superposition of yellow light andblue light over the whole emission angle is obtained so that uniformwhite light is emitted by the LED assembly over the whole emission anglewithout a yellow ring problem.

Preferably, the filter layer reflects the light rays with an emissionangle of about 0° to 30°, preferably of about 0° to 20°, to the normalon the filter layer. The reflected light rays are blue light rays of theemitted light of the LED die with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500nm, preferably of about 420 nm to 490 nm.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention about 10% to 50%, preferablyof about 15% to 30%, of the light rays emitted by the LED die arereflected by the filter layer depending on their emission angle. Thereflected light rays are blue light rays of the emitted light of the LEDdie with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably of about 420nm to 490 nm. Thus, about 10% to 50%, preferably 15% to 40%, of the bluelight rays emitted by the LED with an emission angle of about 0° to 40°,preferably of about 0° to 30°, to the normal on the filter layer arereflected. The rest of the blue light rays emitted by the LED with anemission angle of about 0° to 40°, preferably of about 0° to 30°, passthe filter layer without a reflection.

The filter layer comprises preferably a dielectric layer coating ofalternating low and high refractive index materials. The alternating lowand high refractive index materials may be chosen in such a manner thata well directed reflection of the blue light emitted by the LED die canbe achieved.

The materials of the dielectric coating layer are preferably transparentfor wavelength between 400 nm and 800 nm with a refractive index of thehigh refractive index materials in the range of 1.6 to 3 and with arefractive index of the low refractive index materials in the range of1.2 to 1.8. The absorption coefficient of the index materials is<0.00001 for wavelength>480 nm and <0.003 for wavelength>400 nm. Nb₂O₅(nobium oxide) is preferably used as high refractive index material andSiO₂ (silicon oxide) is preferably used as low refractive indexmaterial.

Preferably, the filter layer comprises nine layers of the highrefractive index materials and nine layers of the low refractive indexmaterials. The layers may be applied by thin film deposition techniqueslike chemical vapour deposition or sputtering.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter layeris arranged between the LED die and the phosphor layer. Thus, the filterlayer is positioned on top of the LED die and the phosphor layer ispositioned on top of the filter layer.

Due to another embodiment of the invention, the phosphor layer isarranged on top of the LED die and the filter layer is arranged on topof the phosphor layer.

Additionally, it is possible according to a further embodiment of theinvention, to provide a LED assembly with a first phosphor layer and asecond phosphor layer, wherein the filter layer is arranged between thefirst phosphor layer and the second phosphor layer. Preferably, thefirst phosphor layer is positioned on top of the LED die.

The phosphor layer may comprise a Lumiramic plate and/or phosphor powderembedded in a transparent matrix material. The Lumiramic plate is apoly-crystalline ceramic plate of Ce (III) doped yttrium gadoliniumgarnet (Y, GdAG:Ce). To combine such a Lumiramic plate with a blue lightemitting LED die to produce white light in the range of 5000 Kcorrelated color temperature is very advantageously. Scattering andlight extraction means of the Lumiramic ceramic color converter platesenable production of reliable and efficient white pcLEDs. Measurement ofthe optical properties of the Lumiramic plates before the final LEDassembly allows pick and place packaging with exact targeting of thedesired white color point of the LED.

Preferably, the LED assembly may provide a transparent glass plate whichfunctions as a substrate for the filter layer. Thus, the filter layerdoes not have to be applied directly on the LED die or the phosphorlayer. The filter layer can be easily applied to the transparent glassplate and after applying the filter layer on the glass plate it isarranged to the LED assembly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter layerhas a total thickness of 750 nm to 950 nm, preferably of about 800 nm to900 nm.

Further, according to an embodiment of the invention, the phosphor layerhas a thickness of about 80 μm to 150 μm, preferably of about 100 μm to130 μm.

Moreover, the layers of high refractive index materials preferably varyin thickness from 5 nm to about 70 nm and the layers of low refractiveindex materials preferably vary in thickness from about 20 nm to about300 nm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a light emittingdiode assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the transmittance of the inventive filterlayer depending on the emission angle and the wavelength of the lightemitted by the LED die;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing geometrical distance of color coordinates tothe color coordinates in normal emission in Uniform Color Space (CIE1976) of a white LED assembly;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a light emittingdiode assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a light emittingdiode assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a light emission diode (LED) assemblyaccording to the invention with a LED die 10, a phosphor layer 12 and afilter layer 14. The led die 10, the phosphor layer 12 and the filter 14are preferably covered by a semicircle-shaped housing 16 that can have areflecting coating applied to the interior wall thereof. The LED die 10that emits blue light with a wavelength of about 400 nm to 500 nm ispositioned at the bottom 18 of the LED assembly. On the top of the LEDdie 10 the phosphor layer 12 is positioned. The phosphor layer 12 emitsyellow light with a wavelength of about 570 nm to 590 nm. The phosphorlayer 12 may comprise a Lumiramic plate and/or a phosphor powderembedded in a transparent matrix material. The thickness of the phosphorlayer 12 is about 100 μm to 120 μm. On the top of the phosphor layer 12the filter layer 14 is positioned. The filter layer 12 comprises adielectric layer coating of alternating low and high reflective indexmaterials, like Nb₂O₅ and SiO₂.

FIG. 2 shows a graph showing the transmittance of the inventive filterlayer 14 depending on the emission angle and the wavelength of the lightemitted by the LED die 10. The filter layer 14 shown in this graph has alayer construction shown in the following table 1:

TABLE 1 Layer Material Thickness [nm] 1 Nb₂O₅ 15.04 2 SiO₂ 40.81 3 Nb₂O₅19.95 4 SiO₂ 62.79 5 Nb₂O₅ 11.03 6 SiO₂ 554.43 7 Nb₂O₅ 1.32 8 SiO₂101.21 9 Nb₂O₅ 13.57 10 SiO₂ 76.41 11 Nb₂O₅ 19.62 12 SiO₂ 58.04 13 Nb₂O₅15.14 14 SiO₂ 72.37 15 Nb₂O₅ 15.13 16 SiO₂ 97.54 17 Nb₂O₅ 12.78 18 SiO₂90.31 19 Nb₂O₅ 7.44 20 SiO₂ 66.31 21 Nb₂O₅ 3.68

The different lines shown in the graph are the different emission angles0°, 26°; 40° and 77°. As it can be seen, for large emission angles, like40° and 77°, light rays independent from its wavelength are able to passthe filter layer 14 without any reflection or absorption. At thisemission angle the transmission of the emitted light rays, especiallythe blue emitted light rays, is about 100%. For small emission angles,like 0° and 26°, blue light rays with a wavelength of 400 nm to 500 nmare not completely able to pass the filter layer. At this emission anglethe transmission of the emitted light rays is about 80%. About 20% ofthe blue light rays are reflected by the filter layer 14. The yellowlight rays of the phosphor layer 12 with a wavelength of about 520 nm to650 nm are fully able to pass the filter layer independent from theemission angle. Thus, the filter layer 14 only reflects some of the blueemitted light rays. The partial reflections of blue light rays emittedby the LED die 10 depending on their emission angle to the normal on thefilter layer 14 realizes a uniform over angle emission without loss ofefficiency of the light emitted by the LED die 10, because blue lightreflected at the filter layer is absorbed by the phosphor layer andconverted to phosphor emission.

The filter layer 14 can also have the layer construction shown in thefollowing table 2:

TABLE 2 Layer Material Thickness [nm] 1 Nb₂O₅ 25.85 2 SiO₂ 33.7 3 Nb₂O₅29.11 4 SiO₂ 36.26 5 Nb₂O₅ 11.19 6 SiO₂ 35.9 7 Nb₂O₅ 11.91 8 SiO₂ 95.529 Nb₂O₅ 14.5 10 SiO₂ 114.43 11 Nb₂O₅ 22.39 12 SiO₂ 50.5 13 Nb₂O₅ 32.3314 SiO₂ 27.98 15 Nb₂O₅ 31.87 16 SiO₂ 68.13 17 Nb₂O₅ 12.63 18 SiO₂ 203.49

FIG. 3 shows the geometrical distance of color coordinates to the colorcoordinates in normal emission in Uniform Color Space (CIE 1976) of awhite LED assembly without (full line) and with (dashed line) aninventive filter layer depending from the emission angle of the emittedlight rays. As it can be seen in the graph, with the inventive filterlayer 14 it is possible to obtain an almost constant color of the lightrays emitted of the LED assembly independent from the emission angle ofthe light rays.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a light emittingdiode assembly according to the invention. In this embodiment the filterlayer 14 is arranged between the LED die 10 and the phosphor layer 12.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of a light emittingdiode assembly according to the invention, whereas the LED assemblycomprises a first phosphor layer 12 and a second phosphor layer 20. Thefilter layer 14 is arranged between the first phosphor layer 12 and thesecond phosphor layer 20, whereas the first phosphor layer 12 ispositioned on top of the LED die 10.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such illustration and descriptionare to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive, theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood andeffected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimedinvention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and theappended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not excludeother elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does notexclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited inmutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combinationof these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs inthe claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

1. A device comprising: a light emitting diode that emits first light; acolor converter that is stimulated by the first light to emit secondlight; and a filter that reflects 10% to 50% of the first light emittedat angles between 0° and 40° and fully transmits first light emitted atlarger angles.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first lightcomprises light with a wavelength between 400 nm and 500 nm.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the color converter comprises a phosphor. 4.The device of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a dielectricstructure comprising alternating low refractive index and highrefractive index materials.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the lowrefractive index materials have a refractive index between 1.2 and 1.8and the high refractive index materials have a refractive index between1.6 and
 3. 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the low index materialcomprises Nb₂O₅ and the high refractive index material comprises SiO₂.7. The device of claim 1 wherein the rest of the first light emitted atangles between 0° and 40° is transmitted by the filter withoutreflection.
 8. A device comprising: a light emitting diode that emitsfirst light; a color converter that is stimulated by the first light toemit second light; and a filter that partially reflects the first lightemitted at angles between 0° and 30° and fully transmits the first lightemitted at angles between 30° and 90°.
 9. The device of claim 8 whereinthe first light is blue and the second light is yellow.
 10. The deviceof claim 8 wherein the filter is disposed between the light emittingdiode and the color converter.
 11. The device of claim 8 wherein thecolor converter is disposed between the light emitting diode and thefilter.
 12. The device of claim 8 wherein the color converter is a firstphosphor layer, the device further comprising a second phosphor layer,wherein the filter is disposed between the first phosphor layer and thesecond phosphor layer.
 13. The device of claim 8 wherein the colorconverter comprises a luminescent ceramic.
 14. The device of claim 8wherein the color converter comprises a phosphor embedded in atransparent matrix material.
 15. A device comprising: a light emittingdiode that emits blue light; a phosphor layer disposed in a path of theblue light, wherein the phosphor layer is stimulated by the blue lightto emit yellow light; and a filter that reflects a portion of the bluelight such that the blue light and the yellow light have the same ratioover emission angles from 0° to 90°.
 16. The device of claim 15 whereinthe filter reflects 10% to 50% of the blue light.
 17. The device ofclaim 15 wherein blue light at an emission angle near normal isreflected by the filter more than blue light at an emission angle farfrom normal.
 18. The device of claim 15 wherein the filter comprisesalternating low refractive index and high refractive index materials.19. The device of claim 18 wherein the filter comprises nine layers oflow refractive index material and nine layers of high refractive indexmaterial.